Michael Flint works on the curveball Grandma Kat taught him how to pitch, but it is not going well. He does not use this pitch in games, because he cannot do it perfectly. Michael, catcher Carlos Reyes, and the other boys arrive at the park to play baseball. They talk about Fernando Valenzuela’s remarkable curveball. Michael and his friend Adam discuss Raiders of the Lost Ark and Empire. Coach Clemmons tells the players that they are playing against the other team’s best pitcher, but Michael is their own best pitcher. During downtime between times in the field, David, Michael’s younger brother, asks him to play Atari after the game. While no one has gotten on base, Michael does not like how his pitching has gone, leading the coach to tell him that he does not need to be perfect. David tells Michael that Grandma Kat said his pitches are perfect.

Michael’s team, Fulton Street Pawn and Loan, have not scored yet either. When back at pitching, Carlos and Michael go back and forth about which pitch to throw. Carlos wants Michael to pitch his curveball, but Michael does not want to. He realizes, however, that if he does not ever use it, it will never improve.